Apart from a few Radeon HD 7970 "X2" dual-GPU graphics cards, and a few non-reference design HD 7970, we didn't hear much about new Radeon SKUs, at Computex. AMD or its partners never even talked about the Radeon HD 7990. It appears now, that the company is working on three new SKUs that will likely replace existing ones, in a bid to replenish the competitiveness of its "Southern Islands" GPU family. The three new SKUs include the Radeon HD 7990, of which we've been hearing for a greater part of this year; the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, which we knew was taking shape for some time now; and the new Radeon HD 7930.

Launch of the Radeon HD 7990 has been facing quite a few delays. We can't imagine technical hurdles with regard to board design, but the performance yield, and performance-per-Watt figures the SKU will have to produce, to ever make it to the market. The HD 7990 has the tough task of performing within an acceptable range of the GeForce GTX 690, on both these fronts.

The Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition will be NVIDIA's bid to compete with the GTX 680, if merely lowering prices won't cut it for the HD 7970. AMD will raise the reference clock speeds for the HD 7970. Lastly, we're hearing of a new SKU, called HD 7930, codenamed "Tahiti LE". This SKU was first spotted when keen observers were poking around with driver information files. It's likely to be a cut-down 28 nm "Tahiti" GPU. It will be interesting to see how AMD prices it, seeing as how it's a tight squeeze between the HD 7870 GHz Edition and HD 7950.

According to a fresh 3DCenter.org report, launch of the HD 7990 is pushed all the way back to August (mid-Summer). The HD 7970 GHz Edition, if real, should be just around the corner, with a June launch predicted. The HD 7930, on the other hand, could be out after June, if the competition gets tough following launch of upper-mainstream NVIDIA SKUs.

So where is the first gen 7970`s land in price?=$399-$499 ??? and will be EOL after GHZ come out.So 2 of them will be in the same performance section the 7970x2 and 7990........Glad I stayed out of this gen to be honest.

I don't know how it can be too late when your competitor hasnt even finished releasing their product line.

We've yet to hear about the 650, 660, 660 Ti.

We wont be hearing about Sea Island until the Q4'-Q1'13 so I dont see the time constrant.

Click to expand...

660 is not even close to the same segment, worthless comparison.

By August the GTX690 will be 4 months in the market so people wanting to buy that kind of card will probably have bought it already. Enthusiasts are not the kind of people that like to wait several months. And it will most probably be slower than the GTX690 and not be made of same quality components, so $200 will not really make a difference.

And if that was not enough, Nvidia can just lower the price to match that of the 7990 because in those 4-5 months until the HD7990 is in good availability 95% of people who wanted the GTX690 will already have it and most likely so will 90% of people wanting to spend that much on a single card, so Nvidia would have already made all the money they wanted from that SKU and would be more than willing to accept some "reduced" profits per card on the remaining.

So what is really the HD7990 going to offer to make the wait worthwhile? I can't think of anything that would move the balance in its favor. August is definitely late for a card like that. Mid-range cards are bought constantly, high-end cards are sold mostly by enthusiasts and early adopters who want the performance lead.

We wont be hearing about Sea Island until the Q4'-Q1'13 so I don't see the time constraint.

Click to expand...

Could be Q4. Could even conceivably be Q3. Just like the almost-assuredly 1536sp Tahiti LE, there's also the pretty-hard-to-interpret-but-anything-other-than-the-gk104-competing-second-largest-baltic-sea-island-chip named Oland mentioned in the drivers that this article gleams it's info.

I think as soon as 660ti and 660 launch AMD will be on the true defensive, as those parts will assuredly be both clocked and priced competitively with Pitcairn (7800). As soon as that becomes a less viable cash-cow, which really is all they care about at this point, the obvious choice would be to refresh the lineup with a chip clocked to perform better than a stock 680/670 and reap the rewards.

Also, AMD has launched a upper-mainstream part replacing the former high-end by q4 for several years running. 2900->3800 Nov 15 2007. 4870->4770 was scheduled for 2008 but obviously massively delayed/respun/downclocked a shitload because of 40nm issues. 4800->5700 Oct 2009. 5800->6800 Oct 2010. You can pretty much bet Pitcairn would've launched last year if the production quantity was there. Right now they need a more-efficient Tahiti and the drivers all but confirm that is on the very-soon (within a few months or so) agenda. The longest we've seen chips in drivers has been 4-5 months, and arguably those (Cayman and Tahiti) can be attributed to a supposed last minute respin and/or yields/production ability. 6800, for instance, launched less than two months after it first appeared in drivers (or probably three months from the initial order). September/Oct both make sense, and seems doable considering the size one would expect it to be (similar to gk104).

Apart from a few Radeon HD 7970 "X2" dual-GPU graphics cards, and a few non-reference design HD 7970, we didn't hear much about new Radeon SKUs, at Computex. AMD or its partners never even talked about the Radeon HD 7990. It appears now, that the company is working on three new SKUs that will likely replace existing ones, in a bid to replenish the competitiveness of its "Southern Islands" GPU family. The three new SKUs include the Radeon HD 7990, of which we've been hearing for a greater part of this year; the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, which we knew was taking shape for some time now; and the new Radeon HD 7930.

Launch of the Radeon HD 7990 has been facing quite a few delays. We can't imagine technical hurdles with regard to board design, but the performance yield, and performance-per-Watt figures the SKU will have to produce, to ever make it to the market. The HD 7990 has the tough task of performing within an acceptable range of the GeForce GTX 690, on both these fronts.

The Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition will be NVIDIA's bid to compete with the GTX 680, if merely lowering prices won't cut it for the HD 7970. AMD will raise the reference clock speeds for the HD 7970. Lastly, we're hearing of a new SKU, called HD 7930, codenamed "Tahiti LE". This SKU was first spotted when keen observers were poking around with driver information files. It's likely to be a cut-down 28 nm "Tahiti" GPU. It will be interesting to see how AMD prices it, seeing as how it's a tight squeeze between the HD 7870 GHz Edition and HD 7950.

According to a fresh 3DCenter.org report, launch of the HD 7990 is pushed all the way back to August (mid-Summer). The HD 7970 GHz Edition, if real, should be just around the corner, with a June launch predicted. The HD 7930, on the other hand, could be out after June, if the competition gets tough following launch of upper-mainstream NVIDIA SKUs.

September/Oct both make sense, and seems doable considering the size one would expect it to be (similar to gk104).

Click to expand...

It's off-topic but do you really think the 28nm refresh will be smaller than Tahiti? IMO that's hard to believe and they would expose themselves to be fucked real hard by Nvidia if they chose to do so.

With a smaller die on the same process, much faster performance is definitely not going to happen and they would expose themselves to Nvidia releasing a 400 mm^2 chip which is more balanced than GK104 on it's resources (look at the GTX670) and as such much faster. Not to mention the GK110.

With a smaller die on the same process, much faster performance is definitely not going to happen and they would expose themselves to Nvidia releasing a 400 mm^2 chip which is more balanced than GK104 on it's resources (look at the GTX670) and as such much faster. Not to mention the GK110.

Click to expand...

Nvidia has never released a bigger die-size then its flagship after going to a new fab process for its current line.

Although Nvidia with Kepler has followed AMDs lead in not cutting ROPs from 680-670 which it looks to be a double edge sword for them.

Nvidia themselves already established that the GK110 is Tesla only this time around and wont be seen until Q4.

everyone just be happy amd is doing something.. amd still has more SKUs than nvidia.. nvidia is the lazy ones not amd.

Click to expand...

And that's good? Having choices is good, but having 1 card every $10-20 increase in price is terribly bad for us. I'm not talking solely about AMD, both AMD and Nvidia do it. Historically 3 segments with 1 or 2 cards was enough. When there was a gap it would be naturally taken by the next faster card, by pure force of market reality and demand. i.e. no demand for $300 card, only for $250 card, hence $300 card drops to $250. That's basic capìtalism. Now they release dozens of cards every $10, so that the price points are not affected and many of those filling cards are more limited in quantity and defnitely marketing (HDxx30, Nvidia's SE cards), which means the cards they do care about (HDxx50/70) still sell in larger quantities and on it's higher "protected" price. It's the equivalent of banks buying shares which they manage at high prices so that the price does not plummet (Facebook).

Nvidia has never released a bigger die-size then its flagship after going to a new fab process for its current line

Click to expand...

And that means nothing. I can also say that Nvidia has never released a flagship chip smaller than 400 mm^2 and now they did (and didn't actually since GK104 is not the flagship). If you think Nvidia will not release a larger chip, either in the form of GK110 or something else in this 28nm process that is so much better than previous ones (despite supply constrains) and where they have so much room left... well you are crazier than I thought.

Nvidia themselves already established that the GK110 is Tesla only this time around and wont be seen until Q4.

Click to expand...

Link? All I've seen said is that for the time being and until AMD has something to combat them, it's not on their plan to do so. But the chip will ship and in good quantities (for a chip that class) as Tesla and Quadro. Any real threat from AMD in Q4 and only 2.5-3 months (waffer order) separates Nvidia from their GK110 based GeForce card. That's a lot more than enough unless AMD does not market their New product at all and use CIA/KGB tactics to mantain everybody silent.

I think as soon as 660ti and 660 launch AMD will be on the true defensive, as those parts will assuredly be both clocked and priced competitively with Pitcairn (7800). As soon as that becomes a less viable cash-cow, which really is all they care about at this point, the obvious choice would be to refresh the lineup with a chip clocked to perform better than a stock 680/670 and reap the rewards.

And that's good? Having choices is good, but having 1 card every $10-20 increase in price is terribly bad for us. I'm not talking solely about AMD, both AMD and Nvidia do it. Historically 3 segments with 1 or 2 cards was enough. When there was a gap it would be naturally taken by the next faster card, by pure force of market reality and demand. i.e. no demand for $300 card, only for $250 card, hence $300 card drops to $250. That's basic capìtalism. Now they release dozens of cards every $10, so that the price points are not affected and many of those filling cards are more limited in quantity and defnitely marketing (HDxx30, Nvidia's SE cards). It's the equivalent of banks buying shares which they manage at high prices so that the price does not plummet (Facebook).

Click to expand...

really are you serious every 10$? its every 100 dollars for the high range models, this is retaila price NOT current price

thank this post even if you dont agree with its context... im informing people prices for each model lol this is neweggs lowest price for each model listed

Click to expand...

First of all, it was an obvious hyperbole.

Secondly, the fact that they inflated so much the prices this round and thus my $10-20 comment is no longer anywhere close to accurate, that does not change the fact that I'm right anyway. And I'm not going to thank your post because it lacks half the lineup, probably because it would prove my point.

And it's also lacking the HD7930 which is why we are discussing this point in the first place. Include it in the list and things start to look ridiculous even in the high end.

Secondly, the fact that they inflated so much the prices this round and thus my $10-20 comment is no longer anywhere close to accurate, that does not change the fact that I'm right anyway. And I'm not going to thank your post because it lacks half the lineup, probably because it would prove my point.

Click to expand...

half the lineup.. they are not sold on newegg HD7670 and below are OEM sold only.... aka no real price for them in the retail market.. aka your wrong...and! when you choose an HD7670 from an oem its like paying for an HD7870 because thats how much they add in their customization button lol

edit: the price differance will be sorted out more when the hd7930 comes out... they expect the hd7930 to be 350 to 370 price range... it doesnt make sense to the current prices so we HAVE to expect a price drop ^^

thats means the HD7870 going from 319 to 279-289 and the 7930 being 319 theres alot of play room in their pricing

edit 2: you need to look at things realistically in the gpu world this generation.. cpus use the $10 price range especially amd cpus.... but i hate amd cpus and dont care for their cpu division but as for gpus.... its not going to happen.

half the lineup.. they are not sold on newegg HD7670 and below are OEM sold only.... aka no real price for them in the retail market.. aka your wrong...and! when you choose an HD7670 from an oem its like paying for an HD7870 because thats how much they add in their customization button lol

Click to expand...

Again the fact that they are selling shoulda be low end chips at higher price points, does not make you right. It doesn't make you right the fact that they don't currently sell half the HD7000 lineup on Newegg. They DO sell the HD6xxx cards which are actually the same cards, so you are wonrg! Or were you suggesting that AMD does not have retail lineup below $110??

And when that happens, and both Nvidia and AMD cards come down to the price at which they should have been released to being with, my point will be fully true, even the hyperbole will be true for a good chunk of cards. The rest (higher end) will be separated by $30-50 max and non-ref OC versions of cards will overlap in price with faster cards, which is completely ridiculous.

Remember prices drop, less with this tactic I mentioned, but they drop, but SKUs stay. 4 months from now and you'll see my point being fully true. OR far worse and prices will remain the same (well it already happened with HD6000, GTX500 but we can only hope), ironically making my point true also.

but as for gpus.... its not going to happen.

Click to expand...

It's happened before: HD4000, HD5000, HD6000. 8800/9800, GTX400, GTX500... and will happen again. This generation they are both just selling shoulda be $300 cards for $500 and so it looks like it's not happening, but IS happening already (HD7930 announced).

And that means nothing. I can also say that Nvidia has never released a flagship chip smaller than 400 mm^2 and now they did (and didn't actually since GK104 is not the flagship). If you think Nvidia will not release a larger chip, either in the form of GK110 or something else in this 28nm process that is so much better than previous ones (despite supply constrains) and where they have so much room left... well you are crazier than I thought.

Click to expand...

Thats called speculating. Which Really means nothing until it happens.

Link? All I've seen said is that for the time being and until AMD has something to combat them, it's not on their plan to do so. But the chip will ship and in good quantities (for a chip that class) as Tesla and Quadro. Any real threat from AMD in Q4 and only 2.5-3 months (waffer order) separates Nvidia from their GK110 based GeForce card. That's a lot more than enough unless AMD does not market their New product at all and use CIA/KGB tactics to mantain everybody silent.

Can you provide links to your assumptions because I would like to read where you get your information so I can put some substance behind your post rather then just the random speculating any Nvidia fanboy can do on any given forum.

again the fact that they are selling shoulda be low end chips at higher price points, does not make you right. It doesn't make you right the fact that they don't currently sell half the hd7000 lineup on newegg. They do sell the hd6xxx cards which are actually the same cards, so you are wonrg! Or were you suggesting that amd does not have retail lineup below $110??

And when that happens, and both nvidia and amd cards come down to the price at which they should have been released to being with, my point will be fully true, even the hyperbole will be true for a good chunk of cards. The rest (higher end) will be separated by $30-50 max and non-ref oc versions of cards will overlap in price with faster cards, which is completely ridiculous.

Remember prices drop, less with this tactic i mentioned, but they drop, but skus stay. 4 months from now and you'll see my point being fully true. Or far worse and prices will remain the same (well it already happened with hd6000, gtx500 but we can only hope), ironically making my point true also.

No it's not based on facts at all. Nvidia has released bigger chips for the same generation several times, except on new process, which made them smaller in actual size, but bigger in both relative size and performance.

Now the process has been inversed, but it's all the same. Last 2 generations they didn't release a bigger chip because they couldn't. But lol really you can call it speculating all you want, but if you are really seriously suggesting that Nvidia won't release a GPU bigger than 294mm^2 in 2 years you are really nuts.